May 3, 2013 /connektivism - Photography News/ May 3 is recognized around the globe as World Press Freedom Day. This year is its 20th anniversary, and an opportunity to reflect on the fundamental principles of press freedom.
Focusing on the theme Safe to Speak: Securing Freedom of Expression in All Media, World Press Freedom Day 2013 highlights journalist safety, crimes against freedom of expression, and securing a free and open Internet as the precondition for online safety.
How safe are journalists today?
Securing the safety of journalists continues to be a challenge due to an upward trend in the killings of journalists, media workers, and social media producers. In 2012 alone, UNESCO’s Director-General condemned the killings of 121 journalists, almost double the annual figures of 2011 and 2010. In addition, there continues to be widespread harassment, intimidation, arbitrary arrest and online attacks on journalists in many parts of the world. To compound the problem, the rate of impunity for crimes against journalists, media workers and social media producers remains extremely high.
The day is also an occasion to assess the state of press freedom throughout the world, defend the independence of the media, pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of work, recognize the critical role of a free press in protecting human rights, and make a commitment to do everything we can to ensure that journalists and other media workers can do their jobs safely. Because a free press needs you as much as you need it.
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| Freedom of the press worldwide in 2013, by Reporters without Borders |
